The number of people who consider their apophenia a strength is astounding. The irony lies is the fact that so many people believe this numerology that rational investors must take their influence into consideration.

A problem occurs whenever we look at something afterwards, and investigate the numbers we can find involved therein. For instance, when we plot the occurrence of illnesses across a city, we might find pockets and think they represent zones where something is causing illness; but in fact, we always find pockets in random distributions like that, so finding those pockets doesn't necessarily mean anything. In order to test the numbers, we have to make predictions first, then let events occur, and afterwards check the numbers to see if our predictions pan out.

I'd like to see his experiment performed to see if his numbers work out the way he predicts.

"Not long afterward, he claims, the C.I.A. telephoned his firm, eager to get a closer look at his model. Agents had been watching him and were curious about how he had managed to call the collapse of the ruble."

Considering this happened in 1998 and the Soviet Union ended in 1991, he was seven years late.

The number of people who consider their apophenia a strength is astounding. The irony lies is the fact that so many people believe this numerology that rational investors must take their influence into consideration.